Washington, DC – Today, during its Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) voted in favor of automatic data roaming. CCA (Competitive Carriers Association) commends and congratulates the Commission for its pro-jobs and pro-investment decision. The watershed decision to adopt automatic data roaming will bring significant benefits to consumers, spur innovation and will promote competition in the wireless industry.

“We are very pleased with the FCC’s decision, which certainly will be viewed as historically significant,” said CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry. “The FCC’s decision to require automatic data roaming guarantees that consumers and carriers will have a pathway to 3G and 4G services. Consumers will benefit from a more competitive marketplace, and carriers will be encouraged to invest in advanced networks.”

“In a few years, we will look back at today’s decision and wonder why there was ever any hesitation to require competitive connectivity in an IP world. Requiring automatic data roaming is the only logical conclusion you can come to – it is pro-business, pro-investment, pro-jobs and pro-competition!”

“With this vote, the FCC made huge progress, but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure small competitive carriers can continue to compete. The next challenge is ensuring all consumers’ devices are interoperable in a broadband world, and the FCC has the ability to begin that process immediately. I thank the Commission for its work on data roaming. CCA is delighted with today’s outcome, and we are ready to ‘roll up our sleeves’ and work with the FCC to make interoperability a reality also.”

About CCA

CCA is the nation’s leading association for wireless providers serving rural and regional areas of the United States. The licensed service area of CCA’s nearly 100 members covers more than 80 percent of the nation.